91自拍

May 12, 2026

East Mississippi Community College鈥檚 food service provider, Sodexo, randomly selected 10 students from 600 colleges and universities nationwide to each receive a $575 Visa gift card and a $1,250 donation on the student鈥檚 behalf to food-related charity of his or her choice. 91自拍 freshman Matthew Wolvers, a Meridian resident who attends school on 91自拍鈥檚 Scooba campus, was among the 10 winners selected out of 7,184 entries.

鈥淚 received an email from Sodexo that I had won, and I was like, 鈥榃ow, that鈥檚 a lot of money,鈥欌�� Wolvers said. 鈥淭hat was surprising.鈥�

Wolvers, a member of 91自拍鈥檚 men鈥檚 soccer team, selected LOVE鈥檚 Kitchen in Meridian to receive the $1,250 donation from Sodexo in his name. On April 29, Sodexo Area Marketing Manager Elizabeth Brunet presented LOVE鈥檚 Kitchen Executive Director Fannie Johnson with a ceremonial check for the $1,250 in the dining room on 91自拍鈥檚 Scooba campus. Wolvers was present as well.

LOVE鈥檚 Kitchen, which has operated in Meridian since the 1980s, provides a free full-course lunch for the food insecure five days a week. The organization works with other nonprofits to assist with things like GED tutoring, resume building, job searches, and providing transportation for doctors鈥� visits and other necessities.

鈥淲e have homeless clients, the working poor, elderly people, transient, and then people who just run into emergencies,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淢eridian has been blessed. It鈥檚 not just us. There are a lot of agencies working together and we help each other out.鈥�

Johnson said the need is great. The Mississippi Department of Employment Security reported a 26.3 poverty rate in Lauderdale County for 2024, which is the latest year for which figures are available.

鈥淒onations are very important,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淓specially given that we don鈥檛 always know what to expect. Today, I fed 75 people and tomorrow I might have 120. I am very grateful to Sodexo and to Matthew. It is extra special when young people like Matthew get involved because some of our donors are getting to a point where they can no longer donate because they are living off a retirement check.鈥�

Wolvers said he chose LOVE鈥檚 (Lauderdale Outreach and Volunteer Effort) Kitchen because he is familiar with their work. He has volunteered to serve meals at the nonprofit through the church that he and his family attend.

鈥淭he gift card I received is really nice, but the donation to LOVE鈥檚 Kitchen is even better because it is going to help someone else,鈥� Wolvers said. 鈥淚t is going to a better cause.鈥�

The giveaway was part of Sodexo鈥檚 鈥淪lay the Day Sweepstakes鈥� that took place at colleges and universities across the U.S. where the company manages food services. The annual sweepstakes take place in conjunction with Sodexo events to promote menu items. This year鈥檚 themes were 鈥淪low Your Roll鈥� and 鈥淎ll That Jazz鈥� that featured soul food served to the sounds of the jazz era, among other things.

Brunet said the annual event is a way for Sodexo to give back to the community.

鈥淭his is one of our initiatives to battle food insecurity in a more local way,鈥� Brunet said.

The $575 Visa card giveaway was billed as a way to 鈥減lan the daytrip of your dreams.鈥� Wolvers did just that.

鈥淢e and my buddies have never been to Mississippi State University baseball games, so we went up there these past two weekends to watch them play,鈥� Wolvers said. 鈥淚t was a really cool experience.鈥�

Sodexo, a global company, provides food services to companies, hospitals, schools, universities and a wide range of other organizations. In 1995, Sodexo became the world鈥檚 biggest food company after acquiring Gardner Merchant and Partena, according to the company鈥檚 website. Sodexo offers a full range of dining services on 91自拍鈥檚 Scooba and Golden Triangle campuses.

鈥淪odexo has consistently gone above and beyond in supporting the faculty, staff, and students of 91自拍,鈥� 91自拍 Associate Dean of Students LaPari Morant said. 鈥淭his initiative is another powerful example that their impact reaches far beyond dining services. They are truly a vital and valued part of the wider 91自拍 community.鈥�